The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-05-09

have been established. Ana we shoulo
not wonder if some expedient were de-
vised for bridging over the financial |
emergency in the hope of better times
In reality, all the Australian com
nunities are prosperous. New Zealand |
is steadily progressing in wealth and I'M
portance. 1t is fast becoming a manu-
featuring country, and is to great ex-
tent independent of imports. 1t is like
wise an important exporting country.
This is true also of New South Wales and
Victoria. The depression common to
all these communities is the reaction
after excessive speculation in land and
the imitation caused by loan expenditure.
1t is mere temporary check, and they
will be all the better for it.
News from Fiji is that the sugar crop
now being crushed will aggregate $4,000
tons. The Auckland Refinery is capable
of turning out about 10, 900 tons of refined
sugar every year. 1t draws it supplies
from Fiji, Mauritius and Java. The Aus
traIian sugar crop likewise promises
well. New Zealand has had bountiful
harvest.
Sir Charles Mitchell, High Commits
missioner for the Western Pacific, was at
Tonga at latest dates inquiring into the
recent murderous attack upon Rev. Shir-
ley Baker, Prime Minister of King
George. The investigation, however,
takes the form of review of Bakers ad-
ministration This bears out what the
ADVERTISER suggested would probably
take place When the High Commits
sioner concludes his inquiry he is to pro-
ceed to Auckland and communicate by
telegraph with the Home Government.
Under these circumstances one is at
loss to guess what possible assistance
Minister Bush and the Kaimiloa would
be to the Tongan monarch. Yet Mr..
Bush is to go to Tonga on treaty-mak-
ing expedition.
From the Colonial papers we gather
good deal of information regarding the
New Hebrides and the Samoan question.
The idea of a joint protectorate of the
New Hebrides by England and France
has been preached, but the Egyptian
muddle does not encourage the project
for a divided responsibility so far away
from the central Government. AT the
opening of the Imperial Conference in
London, Sir Henry Holland, Secretary
of State for the Colonies, gave an assur-
ance that due care for the preservation
of the independence of the New
Hebrides had been taken. He also said
he had agreed that the representatives of
Great Britain, Germany and America
should hold a conference at Washington
with regard to Samoa, which it was ex-
pected would preserve its independence,
and secure each Power freedom of COM
merce and navigation, and Jurisdiction
over its own subjects. Great Britain, he
said, would urge the formation of joint
land court in Samoa. This is a some
what explicit declaration of policy, and
it will be seen that it ignores Hawaiian
claims to voice in determining the in
| ternationai status of the Samoan group,
despite the Treaty of Federation re-
Gently concluded between Hawaii and
| Samoa.
| From other sources we learn that Ger
man colonization of New Guinea prom
Uses to be successful. Between 200 and
| 800 colonists are established in the coun-
try, which is healthy and productive.
Nothing in the way of settlement has
been attempted in the British territory,
the Imperial Government not having
| declared it's intention regarding it.
At the Imperial Conference already
referred to, Sir Henry Holland alluded
to the Pacific cable project, and said that
| the Government would require a very
strong case to justify an Imperial sub
sidy, but he would be glad to learn the
views of the Colonies regarding reduc-
ton of the cable tariff under Colonial
guarantees. This doubtless refers to the
Eastern cable now connecting New Zea-
land and Australia with the Asiatic and
European telegraph systems, and not to
the Pacific cable project, which he ap-
parently was not disposed to consider.
Our neighbors at Hilo, therefore, who
]
have been specializing upon the landing
of cable there at an early date will be
disappointed. The Canadian Pacific
Company ask subsidy of 100000 a
| year from the Imperial Government to
run fast mail service from Vancouver
to Brisbane, via Honolulu and Fiji. This
would leave New Zealand and Sydney
out. The Colonies would not contribute
to such a service, and the Imperial Gov
eminent viii only substitute the Eastern
route on account Of its vast interests in
India and China. Let us look facts
squarely in the face and not fill ourselves
with false hopes and visionary specula-
tons of exterior aid. The development
of Hawaiian resources, its extension of
trade and commerce, and its interna-
tional importance, will depend upon Ha-
waiian residents, and the sooner they
settle down to realization of this truth
and act upon it the better it will be for
all concerned.
Audience at the Palace.